Secret dossier on MPs backfires on LNP

Queensland Liberal National Party leader
Campbell Newman
has apologised for his party’s purchase of a secret dossier into the private lives of Labor MPs.

Although Mr Newman said he had no knowledge of the dossier, prepared for the LNP by a disgruntled former Labor staffer earlier this year for $3075, it is a major embarrassment for the former Brisbane lord mayor.

For the past six weeks, Mr Newman has accused the Bligh Labor government of using a “dirt unit" to target him and his family’s financial interests. Despite an apology yesterday, he refused to sack two senior LNP staff members, campaign director James McGrath and state director
Michael O’Dwyer
.

“It’s sleazy and unacceptable and I totally condemn the compiling of it which went on without my knowledge or indeed the former leader John-Paul Langbroek," Mr Newman said.

Mr McGrath, who is well regarded within conservative parties but has been embroiled in controversy in the past including resigning from a high profile job with the Conservatives in Britain, did not return calls yesterday.

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LNP president and trucking magnate Bruce McIver said he was not aware of the dossier until Monday night, but he defended the use of research to target political opponents.

However, the dossier, compiled by former ALP staffer Robert Hough, had “crossed the line" by delving into the private lives, including the sexual preferences, ­of cabinet ministers and MPs, he said.

“I’m disappointed that people would dish up or accept some of the material in it but to do a SWOT [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis of your opposition – business does that every day," he told The Australian Financial Review.

He said while the “sleazy material" about Labor MPs would be destroyed, the other material compiled in the dossier would still be used in the next state election.

Mr McIver said he suspected Mr Hough of being a “double agent" for the ALP who leaked the story to the media. “That’s the only thing we can put it down to because it’s never left our office."

Deputy Premier and Treasurer
Andrew Fraser
said the dossier was a “new low in Australian politics" .

He said he found it hard to believe Mr Newman did not know about its existence, considering he sat on campaign strategy meetings since he became LNP leader in April.

The ALP used question time yesterday to call for the LNP to sack Mr McGrath and Mr O’Dwyer.